Bacterial decontamination using ambient pressure nonthermal discharges

Atmospheric pressure nonthermal plasmas can efficiently deactivate bacteria in gases, liquids, and on surfaces, as well as can decompose hazardous chemicals. This paper focuses on the changes to bacterial spores and toxic biochemical compounds, such as mycotoxins, after their treatment in ambient pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on plasma science 2000-02, Vol.28 (1), p.51-55
Main Authors: Birmingham, J.G., Hammerstrom, D.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric-pressure plasmas
BACTERIA
Biological materials
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE AGENTS
Catalysis
Chemical hazards
CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS
DECOMPOSITION
Decontamination
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Fungi
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
Instruments
Microorganisms
MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
Nucleic acids
PLASMA
Plasma chemistry
Plasma devices
Plasma materials processing
Plasmas
STERILIZATION
Sterilization (cleaning)
TOXIC MATERIALS
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Summary:Atmospheric pressure nonthermal plasmas can efficiently deactivate bacteria in gases, liquids, and on surfaces, as well as can decompose hazardous chemicals. This paper focuses on the changes to bacterial spores and toxic biochemical compounds, such as mycotoxins, after their treatment in ambient pressure discharges. The ability of nonthermal plasmas to decompose toxic chemicals and deactivate hazardous biological materials has been applied to sterilizing medical instruments, ozonating water, and purifying air. In addition, the fast lysis of bacterial spores and other cells has led us to include plasma devices within pathogen detection instruments, where nucleic acids must be accessed. Decontaminating chemical and biological warfare materials from large, high value targets such as building surfaces, after a terrorist attack, are especially challenging. A large area plasma decontamination technology is described.
ISSN:0093-3813
1939-9375
DOI:10.1109/27.842862